Moroccan Breaks Indoor Mile Record

Hicham el Guerrouj of Morocco broke indoor track’s oldest record Wednesday night, winning the mile with a clocking of 3 minutes, 48.45 seconds at the Flanders meet.

The record el Guerrouj eclipsed was set by Ireland’s Eamonn Coghlan 14 years ago this month in New York - 3:49.78. El Guerrouj, who set a 1,500 world record in Stuttgart, Germany, on Feb. 2, had few problems Wednesday night, though it was his first indoor mile. He set out at a furious pace and never faltered.

The Moroccan, the reigning 1,500 world indoor champion, lost his chance at an Olympic gold in Atlanta when he fell in the final.

“After two world records like that, I am totally exhausted,” El Guerrouj said after the race, announcing he will not defend his 1,500 indoor world title during the March 7-9 world championships in Paris.